Playing to Win
“If you don’t play to win, don’t play at all” – Tom Brady
I was sitting by the pool at an Airbnb that my family and a few others had rented together to celebrate the Mothers Day weekend. I was watching all the kids in the pool and had a quiet moment while the kids were preoccupied and I got a few minutes to just watch and think. Those moments are few and far between with 4 small kids.
I was thinking about being grateful for the opportunities we have in this country and how lucky we are to simply watch our children play in a pool together on a sunny day. Not everyone in the world has that privileged. It’s important to recognize that, especially when the stresses of life try and creep in.
It made me think about how different it was for me as a kid and the way that I grew up.
I, like a lot of you reading this, I grew up without much. We were on public food assistance, blue collar family, etc etc. That scarcity can give you gifts. It can make you a problem solver, teaches you the value of a dollar, and can give you grit if you choose to be gritty. It can also give you a limited view of the world.
As I became an adult my drive to work hard and achieve was from a place of fighting off what I didn’t want. Playing not to lose. Not playing to win. I was so focused on where I didn’t want to end up, I rarely picked my head up to look at where I wanted to go. You don’t make very much progress that way. It puts you right in the middle of the pack. A .500 record. I am not just talking dollars and cents, that applies to everything in your life. Your health, your relationships, your legacy. Being on defense all the time doesn’t put points on the board.
I had never thought of it that way until I worked with a sports coach who challenged us to think about where some of those traits/tendencies came from and to unpack when those traits become a part of our identity. Pretty eye opening when you realize exactly how long you have been putting limits on yourself.
Right now in our field there is an opportunity to either go on defense or play to win. I believe there is market share out there for those of us who want to play to win and can avoid the trap of believing in scarcity.
Playing defense makes you draw up plays to keep what you have, and believing there isn’t enough out there to go get.
The world is abundant and there are more than enough of your target client transacting right now for you to make a great living. Playing to win will get you in front of those people, will give you confidence and energy that is contagious that your partners and clients need right now. There are people growing their business right now, in this market, regardless or rates or the news cycle on tariffs. They are absorbing that business from people waiting for rates to improve before they go out and market. Or from people that are throwing in the towel and saying “its just too tough out there right now”.
Get out of your comfort zone, get on offense and play to win, not just to make it to the final buzzer.
Have a great week!
Written by Chris Catania
Chris Catania entered the mortgage industry in 2005. As a seasoned Branch Manager and coach at Fairway, Chris has consistently been at the forefront of providing, creative problem solving, exceptional service and tailored financial solutions. His commitment to excellence and deep understanding of the mortgage landscape have made him a trusted advisor and a leading figure in the field.
Beyond his professional achievements, Chris is a Army veteran, devoted husband and father. He is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. Chris also brings his leadership experience and skills to the community as a coach, where he mentors individuals, teaching them the values of teamwork, discipline, accountability and perseverance. Chris Catania's blend of professional acumen, family dedication, and community involvement truly sets him apart as a respected professional and valued community member.
